I want to replace my valve cover gaskets cause they are leaking! I've been looking for the really good kind, the ones with the inner metal and outer rubber, does anyone know where I might buy these at? Or what kind of gasket do you have on your Cougar 3.8 V6 ? Help
I looked up Foprd 3.8 liter rubber valve cover gaskets and saw some on Ebay as low as $8.00 shipped.
What year 3.8 do you have? They're not all the same.
IRRC, '83-'86 use metal covers and '87-'88 have plastic covers and have different gaskets.
When I looked several years ago, nobody made a premium (non-cork) gasket for the early 3.8s. Looks like there are some non-cork options now.
All Vehicles > FORD > 1985 > THUNDERBIRD > 3.8L 232 cubic inch V6 > Engine > Valve Cover Gasket (http://"http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1140152,parttype,10710")
ROL GASKETS VS938HP - $3.85
FEL-PRO VS50212T PermaDryPlus - $5.87
MAGNUM VS25131 MaxDry SS - $9.73
Pass on the Rol Gaskets (from Rockauto, at least), they're on wholesaler closeout - not a good thing.
The metal valve covers only have a cork gasket listed.
All the '85s have metal covers, but the Rockauto listings shows rubber gaskets.
if you have nipped down the bolts and still leaks check out diy help there is a section on valve covers distorting beat mine out straight had no leaks since.
Hmm. O'reilly was only showing cork/rubber gaskets for the metal valve covers.
Thanks guys, going with Magnum and or some blur silicone sealer. lol
If you get rubber gaskets, you shouldn't need any sealant. Just clean and dry surfaces.
mr glee already mentioned it, but make sure the sealing surfaces are flat. They can often be distorted by somebody over-torqueing the bolts down to stop a leak.
Yup, no RTV needed, which is part of the reason they're so nice!
It may have changed, but I normally find that Rockauto has a better selection of parts (both manufs. and variations of parts from the same manufs.) than brick and mortar parts stores.